Los Angeles (AFP) – It was a big night for Lilly King in and out of the water at the US Olympic swimming trials, where she secured a second swim at the Paris Games, then got engaged.
King, the 100m breaststroke world record-holder who had already won the 100m to punch her ticket to Paris, delivered a battling final lap to finish second behind Kate Douglass in the 200m breaststroke on Thursday.
Moments later, her longtime boyfriend James Wells popped the question.
“Yes, yes!” a shocked King said after Wells sank to one knee and presented a ring, the couple hugging as cameras rolled.
“Oh gosh, I am so excited,” King said as they embraced.
Later on the medal ceremony podium she showed off her ring to 20,000-plus fans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, in her home state of Indiana.
King will race for the United States in both breaststroke events for a third straight games.
She won the 100m title in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, but surrendered it in Tokyo to teammate Lydia Jacoby — who didn’t qualify to defend her title.
© 2024 AFP
